Tom Ford Rodeo Drive Store Opens with a Star-Studded Party

The long awaited Tom Ford store on Rodeo Drive finally opened to the public last Friday. Mr. Ford held his opening party the night before and it was probably as huge as the Oscars Vanity Fair party, which was that same weekend.  After work Thursday, I decided to stop by and try to somehow talk my way into the party.  As I walked up Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Eva Longoria, Colin Firth (by the way, he thanked Mr. Ford in his Oscar acceptance speech), Kristin Davis, and Milla Jovovich had just arrived and were immediately escorted through the velvet ropes. Needless to say I was unsuccessful in crashing the uber-exclusive party, but, hey, at least I tried.

On Saturday, I visited the store (again) and it was as gorgeous as I had imagined.  As soon as I walked in, a very handsome male model greeted me with champagne and graciously informed me that the downstairs was menswear and the upstairs was womenswear (I wonder how much he gets paid to serve drinks and give directions). One of my favorites parts of the store was the mirrored spiral staircase, even though it made me dizzy.  The store had a very relaxing ambiance and the staff were surprisingly friendly. In a recent interview with LA Times' Booth Moore, Tom Ford said, ""Even if they are not affordable to everyone, I want people to think, 'If I had the money, I'd love that.'" It's like you read my mind, Tom.

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Store Openings Around the City
 

More photos after the jump...

Vivienne Westwood, Tom Ford, and Lanvin Stores Are Opening Very Soon!

The Vivienne Westwood store on Melrose Ave. should be opening any day now. Over the weekend, I was super excited to see Westwood's name made out of hot pink fluorescent lights. It has a funky and creative aesthetic that has come to be expected from Westwood. The signage is also identical to the Tokyo storefront. Starting on Wednesday, I followed the fast unveiling of the store. First, the gold doors with the logo were uncovered. Then, the whole storefront was revealed and finally the hot pink sign was put on. It was a very exciting week, to say the least.  UPDATE: According to Blackburn and Sweetzer, the store is expected to open the first week in February and Racked LA heard it's opening in March. 

In Beverly Hills, I'm still axiously awaiting the opening of the Tom Ford store.  The storefront has a new photo of Tom Ford dipping Abby Lee Kershaw in his S/S 2011 blue sequence dress.  The store is expected to open Oscar weekend with a very intimate cocktail party which will include an elite VIP guest list hand picked by Mr. Ford.  I can imagine the guest list will be very similar to his highly secreative runway show back in September.

Further down Rodeo Dr., Lanvin's whismical signage is down and a gold "Lanvin" sign is up.  I'm already missing the colorful and playful signage but I'm sure the window displays will make up for it once it opens. The store is excepted to open any day.

Related article: Store Openings Around The City

Store Openings Around the City

Although it seems that more and more stores are shutting their doors, there are a few exciting LA openings coming up soon.

On Rodeo Drive, the opening of the Tom Ford store has been abuzz since December 2008, when WWD got wind that a space had been leased.  If it opens soon, it seems perfectly timed to the release of Mr. Ford's Spring/Summer 2011 collection.  Since Vogue's sneak peek in their December issue, I can hardly wait to see the whole collection!

Just down the street,  Lanvin recently put up a very cute "Opening Soon" sign in front of their soon-to-be store.  I absolutely love the whimsical graphics on the windows. In early August, WWD reported that the store will be 6,000 square feet and include an underground VIP entrance for celebrity clients. After my euphoria from the Lanvin for H&M debut, I'm even more excited about the new Lanvin store!

A few doors down, Agent Provocateur will open a store in Spring 2011.  Earlier this month, they put out a Craigslist ad that they were hiring for the new store.  And down the street closer to Tom Ford, Badgley Mischka is opening a fancy new two-level flagship store (bridal on second level), which was suppose to open Summer 2010.

On Melrose, Vivienne Westwood will open sometime in the new year, according to their PR person.  I'm really looking forward to that opening since it's their first U.S. store.

In Beverly Hills on Canon, Priscilla of Boston will debut their first SoCal store in December.  For my wedding, I had my girls wear a super cute Melissa Sweet, which is under the Priscilla of Boston label, short babydoll dress. Their wedding dresses are gorgeous as well.

For those interested in interior design, their are two stores opening on Melrose Place and Melrose. Pratesi, luxury home linens, and Siglo Moderno, contemporary designs, are preparing to open their doors very soon.

For Lease signs are still up at the former Anthropologie store in Beverly Hills, the Miss Sixty and Fornarina stores on Melrose, and large retail spaces next to Toast on 3rd Street.  I can't wait to see what pops up at those prime spaces.

More storefront photos after the jump...

Browsing Spring 2011 Lookbooks...

Designer's Spring 2011 lookbooks are popping up everywhere. While making my way through them, I found a few looks I fell in love with and will have to make part of my spring wardrobe.

I've always adored Elizabeth and James, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen's brand (also designers of The Row). I feel no different about their Spring 2011 collection which is all about the slouchy and relaxed look (similar to the twins style but a little less homeless). Fashionista got their pretty little hands on the lookbook early and shared the entire collection online. I'm all about parading around town in trendy yet slouchy apparel and I would literally wear both these outfits every lazy weekend.

Photo credit: Fashionista (Elizabeth and James,*Photos by Roderick Angle)


Speaking of slouchy, Creatures of Comforts new collection brings us back to the days of Laura Ingalls. Refinery 29 featured their Spring 2011 collection today and I'm really digging the bright green shorts and pants. I especially love the high waisted look that's starting to catch on among designers.

Photo credit: Refinery 29 LA (Creatures of Comfort)


As the much anticipated Lanvin for H&M collection debuts this weekend, I'm super excited to finally see the collection in person. Their campaign ad looks so similar to the Gossip Girls promo spots, that I was half expecting to see Chuck Bass' snide look pop up as I clicked through the photos.

Photo credit: Lanvin for H&M


And finally, I leave you with a little glamour as the fashion world welcomes back Tom Ford. Vogue's December issue gives us a sneak peak into his Spring 2010 collection and the fashionistas are going mad over it, including me of course.


Photo credit: Vogue (Tom Ford, *Photos by Steven Meisel)